Anthony "Tony" Barraco, Sr.

Anthony “Tony” Barraco, Sr., 85, of Syracuse passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Crouse Hospital. He was born in Marsala, Sicily to the late Salvatore and Teresa (D’Amico) Barraco. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 23, and shortly after met and married the love of his life, Mary Licitra. Throughout his life, Tony was a hard worker with a strong work ethic. Early on, he worked at Darling Ice Cream and Sealtest Ice Cream. He also had a great love of soccer and coached a very competitive team for Saint Peter’s Church. Later, he opened his first of several businesses, LaBella Italia Pastry Shop on Grant Boulevard in Syracuse. In 1973 he started another business, Holiday Ice Cream, on Park Street. He specialized in making Spumoni, Tortoni and Italian Lemon Ice. To this day, people still remind us of how fondly they recall going there to get the best Lemon Ice they ever had. As business in the area changed, Tony would pivot the business to fill a need for a local supplier of packaged ice. He began to make ice in the back of the restaurant and deliver to many small businesses in the area. The business eventually moved to Vine St in Syracuse and evolved into the Holiday Ice Company. With the help of his family, Tony successfully grew the business to the point that after 45 years, it was sold to a private equity firm in 2018. Always an entrepreneur, Tony opened another restaurant, Vesuvius Family Eatery, in his later years to keep busy. Although the restaurant did not last long, he enjoyed his time there. He also took immense pride in decorating his home with an abundance of flowers every spring, and cooking for his family and friends when they would visit. As proud as he was of the businesses he created, his real pride and joy was spending time with his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Tony is predeceased by his beautiful wife of 57 years, Mary (Licitra) Barraco, his two brothers, Filippo and Andrea, and two sisters, Pia and Filippa. He is survived by his children, Anthony (Mary) Barraco, Maria (Paul) Lorenzo, Steve Barraco, Salvatore (Sarah) Barraco, Theresa (Michael) Cummings; grandchildren, Anthony III, Johnathon , Joseph, Matthew, Nicholas, Marianna, Michael, Rocco, Christina, Jillian, Audrianna, Nina , Franco, Michael and Samuel; brother, Nicola Barraco of Italy; sister, Susanna Crimi of Syracuse, several nieces and nephews, and his beloved cat, Dee ,who would only sit on Tony’s lap. Calling hours will take place from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse. A funeral mass in celebration of Tony's life will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. in Our Lady of Pompei/ St. Peter Church, 301 Ash St. Syracuse. Entombment will follow in St. Mary's Mausoleum, DeWitt. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Humane Society of CNY, 4915 W. Taft Rd. Liverpool, NY 13088, or The American Diabetes Association.

Anthony "Tony" Barraco, Sr.

March 18, 1940 - November 5, 2025